Denial

Denial is a way to cope and protect ourselves

Denial is a way of pretending that bad things aren’t happening, because the truth is too painful or too difficult to face.

I can stop if I want to, I just don’t want to.

We may know deep down there’s a problem

It can be hard to accept that you may be losing control over your drinking or that you might need to think about changing your drinking behaviour, especially if it’s your way of coping with things or if you have been drinking for a very long time. It may be easier to think:

“I’m not dependent - I don’t drink every day.”

“I worry a bit, but all my friends drink the same as me and they’re fine.”

“I’m only drinking a lot because things are stressful at the moment. When things improve, I’ll drink less.”

If family and friends are upset and nagging about your drinking, you may prefer to smooth things over and avoid the conversation.

It can also be painful to face up to the problems and upset your drinking might have caused you or your loved ones.

Denial can stop us from getting help or making a change because it stops accepting what’s really happening

Acceptance

Once we accept the problem, we can go about trying to find a solution.

Acceptance is only the first step. But it's an important step in deciding about whether or not to change a harmful drinking pattern.